49ers out for revenge, redemption in rivalry rematch vs. Seahawks

This week Christian McCaffrey heads deep into enemy territory, just like he did last January.He’s got a lot more friends by his side this time around.The San Francisco 49ers superstar running back was about the last man standing by the time Kyle Shanahan marched his team into Lumen Field last January.It was him, Brock Purdy and, uh, well, actually none of the other skill position players that will take the field on Sunday.The final score — 41-6 — was striking, but considering the circumstances, far from shocking.McCaffrey was bottled up for 74 yards on 16 touches.

Purdy was picked off and posted his fifth-worst passer rating as a starting quarterback.The Niners sent blitzes and still struggled to pressure Sam Darnold; the Seahawks rushed four and were constantly after Purdy.It was pure domination.

But it wasn’t an even playing field, not from the opening kick (you know, the one Rashid Shaheed returned 95 yards to the house, electrifying the 12th Man).Now, nine months later, my, oh my, how the tables have turned.Mike Macdonald may have come into the 49ers’ house and celebrated a Super Bowl championship in their locker room back in February, but that’s a distant memory now that Shanahan’s squad is back at full strength, or at least about as close to it as ever.Shanahan didn’t even stick around to see it.He was on site providing analysis for the pregame show but said this week that he had fulfilled his duties by halftime and took off soon thereafter.“It was tough,” he said.Now, though?It’s the Niners who are riding high, the undisputed kings of the league through four weeks and on top of the NFC West.

Surely, redemption — and revenge — has to be on their minds.“I don’t know,” McCaffrey said.“You know, we don’t even think about last year.”Pfft.

Yeah, right.This rivalry goes back further than any of its current participants, and their last meeting is as much of the record as any of their other 50 showdowns since becoming division...